‘We fought the British, too’

(The Malay Mail) – The word “communist” today has negative connotations and one who identifies with those ideals can expect to be vilified for it.

Malay Mail speaks to an 82-year-old ex-communist, identified as H.C, who wears his history as a badge of honour.

“We joined the party to fight the British, not the locals. All we wanted was independence,” said H.C, who was the leader of his troops stationed in the jungle between Johor and Malacca.

“Today, everyone views what we did in history as a bad thing but no one sees the blood and sweat that we put in. I was part of the party from 1948 to 1957. My group started with more than a 100 people but only five of us  walked out alive. Lives were lost from both sides of the war but what people see is how the communists killed. What about us?”

H.C joined the party as a young man after reading the leaflets and posters advocating the fight against the British for independence.

“My father was part of the CPM as well. The British caught him and sent him back to China. My first wife remarried when I joined the party. I met my current wife while we were fighting the same cause. She was handling the publishing of materials and other administrative work in my group while I was out on the field. In the end, she and I were one of the five survivors left from my unit.

“The British had put a price on my head at that time but while there were many close calls, I managed to escape unscathed every time.”

Since neither he nor his comrades were caught or imprisoned, what made them emerge from the jungle in 1957?

“At that time, Malaya was close to independence and we felt that our objectives were met so there was really no use in fighting anymore, neither was there a reason.”

H.C is only two years younger than party leader Chin Peng. So what are his views about allowing Chin Peng to return?

“I personally feel that we have contributed to Malaysia’s fight for independence but I know that most people see it differently. While we are not asking for recognition, we are old now and just want to spend the rest of our lives in peace.”

He added that the objection to Chin Peng’s return is unfair as the Japanese did so much harm during the war but Malaysia has seemed to accept and forgive and is now even welcoming the Japanese.

“Chin Peng is just an old man who wants to come back to his homeland. We, as senior citizens, do not have anymore communist ideals. After all, how many years do we have left? I think he, the same as I, just wants to live out the last years we have together with our families.”

Today, H.C spends his days having tea with his friends and spending time with his grandchildren.

To the rest of us he is just another old man in the crowd.